Portable fire-escape.



No. 632,226. Patented Aug. 29, I899. W. MENGES.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE.

Application filed Mar. 13, 1899.) 2 sheets sheet I lmyaglwv,

(No Model.)

W. MENGES.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application flied Mar. X3, 1899.)

Patented Aug. 29, I899.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wiigesscs l y @Afiopge ys,

NITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

AND MINNIE A. MENGES ADMINISTRATRIXES OF SAID VILLIAM MENGES,

DECEASED. I

PORTABLE FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,226, dated August29, 1899. Apnlication filed March 13,1899. Serial No. 708,876. -.l l0mod l-J To all whom it 'nmq concern.-

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM MENGES, a citizen of the United States,residingat Montgomery, in the county of Lycoming and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Portable Fire-Escapaofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in portable fire-escapes.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofportable fireescapes and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficientone adapted to be connected to and carried within a satchel or analogousreceptacle without interfering with the use of the same for carryingotherartieles necessary for travel and capable of being readily attachedto a Window-sill or other suitable support and of being arrangedinstantly for use, so that a person may at any time escape from abuilding in event of aconflagration orother disaster.

Another object of the invention is to enable the satchel or otherreceptacle containing the fire-escape to be maintained in an openposition, so that when the satchel is thrown out of a window thefire-escape will be positively and automatically paid out to arrange itfor use.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a satchel providedwith a fire-escape constructed in accordance with this invention andshown in operative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View ofthe device, the satchel being closed and the fire-escape arrangedtherein. Fig. 3 isatransverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is asimilar View, the satchel being open. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of aportion of the ladder, illustrating the construction of the hook and thelinks. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View illustrating the manner ofswiveling the hook to the chain.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawlugs.

l designates a satchel forming a receptacle for a ladder 2, which isarranged compactly in the lower portion of the satchel, as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, and which isadapted to permit the rest of the space within the said satchel to beemployed for holding the various articles necessary for travel and otherbelongings of the owner; but instead of arranging the jtire-escape witha satchel it will be apparent that any analogous receptacle may beutilized. The ladder 2, which is provided at its free end with a hook 3,consists of a series of substantially U-shaped links 1, constructed ofstout wire or other suitable material and composed of two sides and aconnecting cross-piece 5. The sides of the links are provided at theirlower ends with eyes 6, which receive the upper portions of the adjacentlinks, and the cross-pieces 5, which are preferably arranged at the topof the link, are bent downward or inward adjacent to the side to offsetthem from the upper terminals of the latter and to provide substantiallyU shaped bends 5. These U- shaped bends, which extend outward from thebody portion of the cross-pieces,are linked into the eyes 6, and theyform seats to prevent the said eyes from sliding inward on thecross-pieces, whereby the ladder is prevented from collapsing. The bends5 are arranged in the same plane as the sides and the transverseconnecting portions to enable the links to fold compactly. The eyes 6and the U- shaped bends, which are disposed longitudinally of theladder, form hinge-joints and permit the links to fold compactly on eachother, as clearly shown in the accompanying drawings.

The hook, which is preferably constructed of stout metal, is adapted toengage the edge of a window-sill or other suitable support to anchor thefire-escape, and it is connected with the outer link by chains 7,forming a flexible connection and permitting the hook to fold within thelinks. The chain is preferably continuous, as shown, and it is providedat its center with an extra link 8, dividing the chain into the twoportions 7, and connected with the shank of the hook by a swiveledsleeve or coupling 8, which permits the hook to be adjusted withouttwisting the chain. The coupling is provided with an opening to receivethe shank, which is enlarged to form a head, a washer being interposedbetween the same and the coupling. The link 8 is secured to the couplingby a transverse fastening device 8 which passes through perforations ofsides or arms S of the said coupling, and the shank of the hook isprovided above the latter with a stop 8, consisting of a sleeve orcollar, but any other form of stop may be employed.

The inner end of the ladder is provided with a short link 9, having eyes10 at its sides, which receive the sides of a spring 11, whereby theladder is attached to the satchel. This spring, which is substantiallyU-shaped, is centrally secured to the bottom of the satchel by means ofan eye 12, consisting of a staple or other suitable fastening device;but the spring may be riveted. or otherwise secured to the satchel, andthe ladder may be connected with the same by any other suitable means,as it may be desirable to conceal the spring within the sides of thesatchel; The sides of the spring extend from the bottom of the satchelto the top of the same, and when the fastening device of the receptacleis brought to its releasing position the spring automatically opens thesatchel and maintains the same in such position, so that the satchelcannot accidentally close and interfere with the unwinding orstraightening out of the foldable ladder. To use the fire-escape, thehook is attached to a suitable support to anchor the free end of theladder, and the satchel, which has been previously opened, is thrown outof the window to the ground, and as it falls the ladder will beautomatically paid out of the satchel and arranged in operativeposition, so that a person may conveniently descend.

The invention has the following advantages: The combined fire-escape andvalise is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction and isadapted to be readily carried,

and it affords a ready means for enabling a person to escape from aburning building and can be quickly arranged in position for use. Theladder is compactly arranged at the bottom of the satchel and does notinterfere with the use of the rest of the space therein for containingthe other belongings of the owner, and the spring which attaches theladder to the minor details of construction within the scope of theappended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing an y of the advantages of this invention.

WVhat is claimed is- 1. A portable fire-escape comprising a receptaclehaving hinged sides adapted to open, a spring connected with the sidesand adapted to swing the same apart automatically and capable ofmaintaining them in such position, and a foldable ladder arranged withinthe receptacle and having one end attached thereto and provided at itsfree end with means for engaging a window-sill or other suitablesupport, said receptacle being portable, whereby it is adapted to bethrown out of a window to cause the ladder to unfold automatically,substantially as described.

2. A portable fire escape comprising a satchel, a substantially U-shapedspring arranged therein and adapted to hold the same open, a foldableladder arranged within the receptacle, composed of links and provided atits inner end with eyes receiving the sides of the spring, and a hookarranged at the outer end of the ladder and adapted to fold with thelinks, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a folding ladder comprising aseries of U-shaped links composed of sides provided with eyes, and atransverse connecting portion provided with a central inwardly-offsetportion forming bends, said bends being arranged in the same plane asthe sides and the transverse connecting portions and being linked intothe eyes of the adjacent link, whereby the eyes are prevented fromsliding inward on the transverse connecting portion, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MENGES.

. lVitnesses:

P. F. IIARTRANFT, C. W. IIAIN.

